The Power of Images: How They Shaped Human History

Introduction

The ability to read and understand images is fundamental to human life.
Imagining a world without this ability shows the immense reliance on images.
The lecture explores the historical journey of how humans discovered and harnessed the power of images.

Humans can quickly recognize images, illustrating the innate ability to interpret visual representations.
This ability to create and understand images developed over time.
Ancient images from Roman and Egyptian periods show advanced two-dimensional representation skills.

Altamira, in Northern Spain, was key to understanding the origin of images.
In 1879, Maria de Sautola discovered prehistoric paintings, challenging the notion prehistoric people lacked creativity.
The authenticity of these paintings was initially doubted by experts.
Further discoveries in France and Spain confirmed the prehistoric origin of these artworks.
The art demonstrated high confidence and skill, leading Picasso to state, "We have learnt nothing."

Homo sapiens have existed for about 150,000 years, but images only appeared around 35,000 years ago.
This period is known as the "creative explosion," when humans began creating pictures.

Initial theories suggested images were to represent the world or aid hunting.
Henri Breuil posited that images increased hunting success.
However, mismatch between depicted animals and those consumed challenged this theory.
Many images were abstract, located in inaccessible cave areas, suggesting deeper significance.

Without prior exposure to images, creating one is complex.
Henri Breuil shared an anecdote about a Turkish man who couldn't recognize a picture of a horse due to lack of exposure to imagery.
The key question is how humans first realized images could represent reality.

In the Drakensberg Mountains, San (Bushmen) paintings shared similarities with European cave art.
David Lewis Williams studied these and found they depicted spiritual experiences rather than everyday scenes.
San paintings were related to trance experiences, where shamans entered altered states of consciousness.

Trance and altered states produce hallucinations, forming shapes and patterns.
These experiences were believed to inspire prehistoric and San paintings.
Abstract patterns found in both European and South African art are linked to brain responses in altered states.

Experiments inducing altered states show that sensory deprivation leads to hallucinations: dots, lines, grids.
These experiences could explain the abstract patterns seen in prehistoric art.

Humans began to create permanent records of visions experienced in altered states, not just copying nature.
This transition marked the beginning of image-making as a human endeavor.

Around 12,000 years ago, cave painting ceased, possibly due to changes in societal priorities.
However, images resurged with the construction of sites like Göbekli Tepe in Turkey, featuring animal carvings.

Göbekli Tepe (12,000 years old) used images extensively, suggesting their continued significance.
The societal effort to build such sites may have driven the need for agriculture, contributing to the agricultural revolution.
The site shows the power of images in shaping human society and culture.

Imagery's impact is profound, leading from prehistoric art to today's image-saturated world.
The revelation of using lines and colors to represent the world marked a pivotal point in human history.